The C-5A and C-5B Galaxies Sing You the Song of Their People
The Lockheed C-5A Galaxy strategic airlifter was powered by four of the most unique jet engines ever produced. The General Electric TF-39 high-bypass turbofan was the first of its kind and developed specifically for the C-5A and was never used to power any other aircraft. The TF-39 was developed into the GE CF6 series of engines which powered the majority of first-generation widebody jetliners and the GE LM-2500 industrial and marine turbine engine that has powered more than 50 classes of Navy ships around the world. But the TF-39 is forever linked to the Galaxy.
More Power
The last TF-39-powered Galaxy engines made its final flight to the AMARG Boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB) for retirement on 7 September 2017. All C-5M Super Galaxies now in service are powered by GE F138-GE-100 engines- a development of the CF6, which was developed from the TF-39. The new powerplants produce 22% more thrust than the TF-39s did, which equates to a 30% shorter takeoff roll, a 38% better climb rate, and greater payload with longer range for the C-5Ms they power. All good, but ask anyone who ever heard a C5A, C-5B, or one of the two C-5Cs fly over and they’ll tell you they miss the unique Fine Whine of the TF-39.
Turn it up!
Enjoy this series of C-5A and C-5B ops uploaded to YouTube by gags5503. The first is a flight deck view out the starboard side windows at the two TF-39s on the starboard wing during a heavily loaded takeoff on a hot/high day (aren’t they all?) out of Afghanistan. The engines were set at 99.8% of N1.
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Touch and Go
This video is of a similar viewpoint shot during a touch-and-go on runway 33 at Westover Air Reserve Base (ARB) with subsequent climb to 3,000 feet during crew training. The high power setting for this clip was “only” 91.1% of N1. Those big fans spool up to power pretty fast!
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Touch and GO!
Here’s another C-5A touch-and-go on runway 23 at Westover ARB in some typically murky New England weather. That TF-39 whine is in full song!
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From the Flight Deck
A C-5A standing takeoff as experienced on the flight deck. Power setting was 98.0% of N1. FRED rumbling down the runway at full screaming whine!
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To the Boneyard
When this clip was shot in March of 2017 the crew was flying one of only five TF-39-powered FREDs left in service to the Boneyard at AMARG. The aircraft had amassed some 25,493 flight hours since entering service in 1970. Thrust reversers in action!
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From the Runway
We wouldn’t be letting the Galaxy sing the song of her people for you without that fine TF-39 whine heard from the ground. We found a great video compendium of TF-39-powered FREDs taking off, landing, and in general making sounds like nothing else in a variety of locations and conditions- many of them shot on runways 21 or 03 at Gander International in Newfoundland. This video was uploaded to YouTube by 235FireFly. Enjoy!
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